The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-23
'YIVSB STEAMBOAT fines.
GROUNDLESs CRNsURR OrLOCAL
INSPECTORS.
Hurveyor TohiR Explains Where
Ne "Ledgcr" Has Gone
Dead Wrong.

umn:
"Siuce Special Inspector Bachelor
was here few weeks sgc and fned
several owners OF steamboats, for pon.
compliance with the laws governing
steam vessels there has been oonsid.
cradle talk among boatmen. Tnere
are two local insp, ctors for this dis
tIict, who were appointed with view
70 their d nesa and experience. II Is
the duty Of theee inspectors TO care.
fully examine the bulls, boilers, life
saving aud other out6 Of vessels In
their district, and give their certificate
only when owners have complied
With the requirements of the law, and
the inspectors are expected 10 know
thees requirements a. fully Is q
special inspector. Common sense
would show thet the inspectors are at
fault, and where the law was violated
II was through ignorance Of the rame,
the owners having placed full conf
dence in the ability Of the inspectors
70 carefully exsHine their boats and
report any infringement. The Aoes
recently imposed should be promptly
RENTED, aod, II anything, the inspec-
tors ensured"
Capt. 7. r. Tobip, surveyor OF the
port, vas seen by an APPnAL reporter
Last night, and his attention called TO
the publication. Alter he had care
fully read II through, he remarked
that the Ledger was wrong In Its pre-
mises and not properly advised. In
not one single instance were LEGAL To-
spectors Darrssh aud Hus RESPONSE
bic and liable 10 censure for the fines.
One Of the boats, fined $500 FIR carry
ing II inch hose ips'ead Of IA, came
from Wheeling, was inpected there.
and not here. Her papers called for
II, and the officers thought that eizs
sufficient, but the local iDspe ciors had
nothing TO do with II. II they had.
the boat would have undoubtedly 20.
capped q 6ne for that ofieuse. The
tsme boat was also 6ned $500 for not
having notices In each etateroom, di.
rct.pg passengers where 10 hud II Q
presoIvtrs. The reason for these be-
Ing ont Of Place was because the vesse'
was bsing painted, 10 de which thor.
oughly the notices were removed from
th, walls. All OF them had been re-
placed but eight, In the ttaierooms
last oyerbauled. Inspector Bdchelor
chanced 10 visit the boat juht al the
time these notices were on the beds,
and imposed the Zoe. Capt. Tobin
says tina. IL 10 somelimes the cas- that
ladies', on repairing 10 their slaterooms,
take down these notices, read them,
and thoughtlesely throw them 10 the
foor.
Another boat was fined for failure
10 place tarpaulins over hay on board
while lying In port aud loading hay.
The Law expressly states that this
class Of freight shall be covered by tar.
paulins. Capt Tobin rays he had ire
quently visited the bost and saw thst
II was amply supplied with this cover.
ing. TIE tfficers were doubtless do
eeived by the words "in traosii, I"
thinking the provision did not apply
while the boat was Ia port.
-Four OF the foes we're imposed for
tahuft W ittufu tHt biu utcIttH anu
take out new ones. This was simply
an oversight OF the boats officers. Ia
one instance the owners bad returned
the old and spilled for new, but had
not given the necessary bond. A new
license sould not be issued until the
bond vas given. The parties proba-
bly, thought they had given bond, bu,
II va. carelessness, aud they had 10
pay the penalty for H.
From these facts ID can easily be
seen ths, the local inspectors are In no
wise 70 blame Tor the hnea, aud have
not been derellct or indifferent In
their duties. Capt. Tobln IL Of the
opinion that had he been In Memphis
ct the time q Inspector Bachelors
visit, II is more than likely thst his
explanations would have prevented a
msiority Of the fines. Az IL IL, he has
forwarded the papers 10 Washington
recommending that all tie hn,a be 70.
mit,ed except enough 10 cover ex pen.
s,s, and III y no donbt will DO.
The reporter went further and IN
vectigattd the 'talk" az 10 the dere-
LECTION on tbs part OF the local inspec-
tors. With this end In view he star.
ed out In search OF those familiar with
the workings OF steamboats,, and,
thanfa TO the powers that be, the tirsl
man whom he ran acrCss was M anti.
land lubDer and one we'll p osted on all
matters pertaining TO river interests.
Bald he: II know all about the hning
Of tho boat owners, but whether ID
was risht o. wrong l won't say; bu, I
do cay, and misd you I ssy Il emphst-
icslly, that that article will probably
do more harm than good. Bat leav
Ina all that aside, u Was uncslled for
and does Capts. John Darrash and
Garrett Huls, the local Inspector Tor
this port and distrlct, groes Injustice.
That Special Inspector Bachelor q lsd
several boat owners Tor q violation Of
the las IL true that there are two local
inspectors Tor this district who we're
appointed With view 10 their fitness
and experience, u also true. And
they do 81 and they have the en-.
perience, aud no practical steamboat
man will deny u. Take Capt John J,
DarrIgb, who 10 the boiler inspector.
He has been on the river alnce hi,
boyhood days, knows all the ina and
outs, II iheft are any, OF n sleambost
and he would not do a wrong. Then
there 10 Garrett Hula. lie, to9, 10 ar
old one and knows bis businss.
NoE," continued the gen,lemin, 81
only made thete remarks 10 shos you
that the stiaod on the local inspectors
10 I'll wrong and unjnst"
The repor er then called upan ths
local inspectors, Darri gh ard Huls, Al
their offiee In tue custom house Al
ter reading the article, aud IN reply /,
questions Capt. Danagh said: III an
surprised that snyihing OF the sor
should b. Published In the papers
and can't res Why We should be- cen
sufed. l. IL true Inst II 10 our duty q,
exam ne the bulls, boilers, life Gavin
and other outfit OF vessels, and W,
have done no. The law inhirncts us /
examine carefully every steamboa,
tug, etc once year, and this We hav,
doue. We 20 through ever
steamer and n everything
not a. the law REQUIRE
We refuse 10 issue a certificate oi IL
npectlon, and without this a stem
h0al canned la.W. Al. ...s -. ~ -